sick parakeet-can anyone help?

1. 65

   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   I have three parakeets. the one that is usually the most "spirited"  is acting winded after he flies (makes squeaky winded noises after he flies) and is doing the bobbing tail thing most of the time that is a sign of stress. He also seems to have more "down times" lately, but is still eating and drinking as much (as far as I can see, I'm not home 24/7)
   
   I don't have the money to take him to a vet. and haven't found any thing about the squeaky noises on line...anybody know?

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2. 81

   Whitney05posted 15 years ago

   Could be respiratory if he's making winded noises which only a vet would be able to diagnose and treat.
   
   I don't know that much about birds, but have you sprayed something in their room that you normally don't? How old is the bird? Is he housed with the other birds? Has anything changed in the home?

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      SparklingJewelposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      yes, it is obvious it is respiratory, but I don't quite get that it is not affecting the other two birds, who in my opinion would be more suseptable .
      
      The only thing different is a new air cleaning machine, top of the line, Mercola.com recommended, not suppose to have levels that affect even small animals, besides the windows are open, too.

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3. 84

   Marisa Wrightposted 15 years ago

   Jewel, I really think you should find a way to afford a vet!
   
   Birds who don't get much opportunity to fly can be unfit - just like us if we don't exercise enough! - and can breathe heavily after a flight, but he shouldn't be wheezing.  If he's bobbing his tail as well, that means he's struggling to breathe which is a bad sign.  Things can go downhill pretty quickly with birds.
   
   The other concern is that If it's psittacosis (I'm not sure if that's spelt right), it can also be transmitted to humans - like bird flu.  So I'd suggest getting it checked out.

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      SparklingJewelposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      they fly freely in my apartment, so its not a lack of exercise.
      They have not been exposed to any outside source, so where would this bird flu come from? do you have a web site that has a lot of information
      
      I called three places in my area today and they are all over 100 dollars just for the visit, tests will be more. that I don't have dealing with my son in his medical situation.
      
      I don't want to sound cold, but it is a bird and my son is my son. I am going to check for any free training clinics tomorrow, there might be one at the University.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Jewel, I do understand.  Unfortunately I'm only going from memory - we had birds for years when I was growing up.  I did find this though:
         
         http://www.windhovervet.com/emergenc.htm#respiratory
         
         Here's some information on psittacosis.  Some strains are dormant until the bird gets stressed which is why it could still be a possibility, however remote.
         
         http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/petsh … cosis.html

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   2. 81

      Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Jewel, I think that you should really find a vet that you can afford. I realize there are other priorities, but you can't diagnose and treat a respiratory condition on your own using the internet as a source. The internet is a great way to come up with possibilities as to the cause and what is wrong, but when it comes to treatment, a veterinarian is the best thing to do.

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4. 65

   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   Well, my parakeet died on Saturday. Everything I read and the few I talked to said there wasn't much to have been done, by the time you realize they are sick, in 9 out of 10 cases of respiratory stuff, its too late to have much affect with treatment.
   
   There certainly is a lot of conflicting information out there. If I had had more time, not having to deal with my sons situation for instance, I could have tuned in better and sooner to the bird's situation. I am keeping a closer watch as best I can on my other two birds. Hopefully they haven't caught it, what ever it was. I cleaned thoroughly all their areas, but I still don't have a hundred dollars to spend on bird prevention. I might try the antibiotics that have been recommended by some of the sources I contacted as a preventative.

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5. 84

   Marisa Wrightposted 15 years ago

   So sorry to hear about the parakeet.  I had heard the same discouraging advice about respiratory disease in parrots - that by the time you notice, it's often too late - but I didn't want to be that negative!   I'll be praying the others haven't caught it.

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6. 65

   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   Thank You, Marissa
   Take Care

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